Earth and Space Science / Unit 8: Climate
8.2 Factors That Affect Climate
Notes
- Latitude: low latitudes receive more direct sunlight and are warmer.
- Elevation: temperature drops about 6.5°C per 1,000 m in the troposphere. A town at 2,000 m is about 13°C cooler than one at sea level at the same latitude.
- Proximity to water: water heats and cools slowly, so coastal climates are milder (maritime) than inland (continental).
- Ocean currents: the Gulf Stream warms northwestern Europe.
- Mountains make a rain shadow: air rises on the windward side, drops rain, and the leeward side is dry.
- Prevailing winds and pressure systems also matter.
Practice
A city at sea level is 25°C. A town 3,000 m higher at the same latitude is about:
$3 \times 6.5 = 19.5$ cooler, so $25 - 19.5 = 5.5$°C.
Coastal cities usually have smaller temperature ranges than inland cities because:
Water's high heat capacity moderates temperature.
The dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range is called a:
Air loses moisture on the windward side.
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